Missing Snowmobiler Found in the St. Croix River

The remains of a man, who went missing in February while snowmobiling after breaking through the ice on the St. Croix River, have been found and identified.

At about 4:30 p.m. Saturday, two wardens from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found the body floating in the St. Croix River near a convergence with the Snake River on the Minnesota side, according to the Pine County Sheriff's Office in Minnesota.

A Pine County Sheriff's deputy, along with the wardens, secured the body to a boat and towed the remains to Soderbeck Landing, north of Pine County Highway 8. At the landing, the Pine City Fire Department helped remove the remains and place them in a transport van.

The remains were sent to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner. The medical examiner identified the remains as belonging to James Harlan Frentress, 43.

Frentress went missing on Feb. 16 after his snowmobile broke through the ice as he was traveling on the river with friends. A search at the time failed to recover his body.

The Pine County Sheriff's Office was planning to conduct a large search Thursday to recover Fentress. The effort has since been canceled. His family has been notified.